Apparatus for transporting discrete commodities to high-speed consuming machines or the like

ABSTRACT

A packing machine for cigarettes or other tobacco-containing products receives a continuous stream of blanks of wrapping material from a suction conveyor which moves past two transfer stations at each of which it can receive blanks from a separate blank forming and feeding unit. These units sever the leading ends of webs of wrapping material and one thereof begins to form and deliver blanks to the suction conveyor when the web which is being severed by the other unit is exhausted, and vice versa. The position of each web with reference to the corresponding unit can be adjusted automatically in response to scanning of bits of information which is encoded on the webs.

[ Nov. 13, 1973 United States Patent [191 Witte APPARATUS FORTRANSPORTING 3,546,850 12/1970 Hatanaka........

ISC COMMODITIES o 3,029,571 4/1962 Douthit....... HIGH SPEED CONSUMINGMACHINES 0R 3,245,297 4/1966 THE LIKE lnventor:

Primary Examiner-Robert L. Spruill Attorney-Michael S. Striker [75]Fritz Witte, Hamburg, Germany [22] Filed:

Related U.S. Application Data A packing machine for cigarettes or othertobacco- [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 43,732, June 5, 1970,

abandoned.

containing products receives a continuous stream of blanks of wrappingmaterial from a suction conveyor [30] Foreign Application Priority Datawhich moves past two transfer stations at each of June 26, 1969Germany...................

P19 32 3605 which it can receive blanks from a separate blank formingand feeding unit. These units sever the leading ends of webs of wrappingmaterial and one thereof begins to form and deliver blanks to thesuction con- [52] U.S. 53/64, 53/389, 83/417, 83/650 B65b 41/12, B65b57/02 veyor when the web which is being severed by the other unit isexhausted, and vice versa. The position of [51] Int.

[58] Field of Search 53/51, 64, 168, 389; 83/367, 417, 650; 242/56, 58,181

each web with reference to the corresponding unit can be adjustedautomatically in response to scanning of [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS bits of information which is encoded on the webs.

1,096,546 5/1914 53/168 19 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDNUVIBISIS3.771.281

SHEET 10F 3 Fig. 1

INVENTOR Flllrz HT PATENTEUHOV 13 I975 SHEET E OF 3 IN VE N TOR.

v FRITZ (1 ITT SHEET 30F 3 PATENTEDHUY 13 I973 INVENTOR;

APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTING DISCRETE COMMODITIES T HIGH-SPEED CONSUMINGMACHINES OR THE LIKE This is a continuation of application Ser. No.43,732, filed June 5, 1970 now abandoned. I

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for transportingstreams of discrete commodities to consuming machines, particularly tohigh-speed consuming machines including packing machines for plain orfilter cigarettes, cirgarillos and other tobaccocontaining rod-shapedproducts. In one of its presently preferred forms, the transportingapparatus of .my invention can be utilized to supply a continuous streamof properly oriented and spaced blanks of paper, cork, plastic foil,metallic foil or like sheet material to a packing machine for cigarettesor the like. Such blanks can be formed by severing elongated webs whichare being drawn from bobbins or analogous sources.

It is known to employ in a filter cigarette machine or in a filtertipping machine an apparatus which makes and transports adhesive-coateduniting bands. Such bands are utilized to join filter rod sections ofdouble unit length with pairs of tobacco rod sections of unit length toform filter cigarettes of double unit length, or to unite a filter plugwith a tobacco rod section of unit length. The uniting bands are formedby drawing a web of paper or cork from a bobbin and along a paster whichcoats one side of the web with a suitable adhesive. The web is caused toadhere to a rotary cutting wheel which carries or cooperates with one ormore knives serving to sever the leading end of the adhesivecoated webat regular intervals. The resulting uniting bands are transferred onto arolling or wrapping conveyor which convolutes them around the filter rodsections or filter plugs and the adjoining ends of tobacco rod sections.Prior to complete exhaustion of a bobbin, the travelling expiring web isspliced to the leading end of a fresh web and the expiring web isthereupon separated from the remainder of the exhausted bobbin. Thesplicing often requires stoppage of the transporting apparatus and hencealso of the consuming machine or machines with resulting losses inoutput. The consuming machine can be stopped in automatic response toexhaustion of a web and remains idle during replacement of the expiredweb with a fresh web. The fresh web must be threaded into thetransporting apparatus and such operation consumes additional time.Furthermore, the uniting bands which are formed in response to severingof the overlapping spliced-together portions of an expired web and afresh web are unsatisfactory and the products which include such unitingbands must be detected and discarded.

Splicing of successive webs end-to-end is particularly difficult whenthe webs are rather wide, for example, if the webs are used to formblanks which must be fed to a packing machine to be converted intoinner, median or outer envelopes of cigarette packs. Presently employedtransporting apparatus which deliver blanks to packing machines forcigarettes or the like are invariably arrested when a web is exhausted,and the fresh web is thereupon threaded into such apparatus while thepacking machine is idle. This causes considerable losses in output,especially in modern high-speed production lines where a packing machinetakes up and processes the output of several high-speed cigarette makingor filter cigarette making machines. It is therefore highly desirable toeither eliminate intermittent stoppage of packing machines or to reducethe periods of idleness to a minimum.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to provide anovel and improved method of making, orienting, transporting anddelivering blanks of paper or metallic foil or other discretecommodities to one or more consuming machines in such a way that eachconsuming machine receives a continuous stream of discrete commoditiesdespite the fact that the sources of commodities are exhaustible andmsut be intermittently replaced with fresh sources.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a method oftransporting a cigarette packing macine or to an analogous consumingmachine which processes tobacco-containing rod-shaped products a streamof flexible sheet-like blanks in such a way that the flow of blanks tothe consuming macine need not be interrupted at all when a source ofblanks, particularly a bobbin of convoluted web material, is exhausted.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method according towhich the stream of commodities is formed in such a way that it containsonly satisfactory commodities so that the likelihood of the consumingmachine turning out defective products is reduced to a minimum, i.e.,that the number of rejects is considerably less than in consumingmachines which are supplied with commodities in accordance with thepresently known methods.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a method which doesnot require splicing of expiring webs with fresh webs when thecommodities are blanks of paper or the like and are obtained by severinga web of such material immediately prior to transport to the consumingstation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedtransporting apparatus for blanks of paper, plastic foil, cork, metallicfoil or other commodities and to provide the apparatus with novel andimproved means for monitoring the orientation and spacing of commoditiesprior to transfer to a consuming station and for automatically adjustingthe orientation and/or spacing when necessary.

A further object of the invention is to provide a transporting apparatuswhich can operate in such a way that the machine or machines whichreceive commodities need not be stopped or slowed down when a sourcecontaining a finite number of commodities or of material which yieldsthe commodities is exhausted.

Another object of the invention is to provide a transporting apparatusfor use in combination with cigarette packing machines or the like whichrequires less supervision than presently known transporting apparatusand enables a single workman to supervise the operation of an entirebattery of such apparatus in a cigarette manufacturing plant or thelike.

The method of the present invention is employed for breaking up suppliesof starting material for discrete commodities and for transporting suchcommodities to a consuming station, particularly for subdividing webs ofwrapping or like material into discrete blanks or bands for transport toa station for the processing of tobacco-containing products. Forexample, the blanks may be converted into inner, outer or intermediateenvelopes of cigarette packs. The method comprises the steps of breakingup a first supply into a first series of successive commodities (e.g.,of severing a continuously or intermittently running web of sheetmaterial to form a succession of blanks) with progressing exhaustion ofthe first supply, intermittently or continuously transporting the thusobtained commodities to a consuming station by moving the commoditiesalong a predetermined (straight or arcuate) path, breaking up a secondsupply into a second series of successive commodities upon exhaustion ofat least the major part of the first supply, and transporting at leastthe majority of commodities of the second series along the path so thatthe foremost commodity of the majority of the second series follows thelast commodity of the first series and that the distribution ofcommodities in the path remains unchanged.

In accordance with a presently preferred embodiment of my method, themajor part of the first supply (e.g., a first web of sheet material) isbroken up by severing to yield the first series of commodities which aretransferred into the path for transport to the consuming station and theremainder of the first supply is severed to yield commodities which areintercepted prior to entry into the path. Analogously, the firstcommodity or commodities of those which are obtained by subdividing asecond web of sheet material are intercepted prior to entry into thepath. This insures that the commodities which are most likely to bedefective or defaced are prevented from reaching the consuming station.

It is further desirable to advance the commodities of the first andsecond series (or the supplies which yield the first and second seriesof commodities) along separate paths toward and into the first-mentionedpath. The distance between the points where such separate pathsterminate adjacent to the first-mentioned path preferably equals to thelength of at least one commodity.

The changeover from introduction into the predetermined path ofcommodities of the first series to introduction of commodities of thesecond series is preferably carried out in a fully automatic way, mostpreferably by scanning the first supply to detect the progress ofexhaustion of commodities in such first supply and by starting theintrodution of commodities of the second series in response to detectionthat the first supply is exhausted to a predetermined extent. Thecommodities which enter the predetermined path are preferably confinedto movement in and are advanced along such path by suction.

When the supplies contain webs of convoluted material which are causedto move lengthwise toward the points where the webs are severed to yieldblanks, the webs can be provided with bits of information which isscanned by photo-tubes or the like. The signals produced in response tosuch scanning can be used to adjust the speed of lengthwise movement ofthe webs in order to insure that the webs are severed at predeterminedpoints. This renders it possible to insure that printed matter or otherinformation on the blanks is in an optimum position when a blank isconverted into an envelope for arrays of rod-shaped tobacco-containingproducts.

The blanks which are obtained in response to severing of the respectivewebs can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the respective websor sideways, depending upon whether the webs are advanced continuouslyor intermittently.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theimproved transporting apparatus itself, however, both as to itsconstruction and its mode of operation, together with additionalfeatures and advantages thereof, will be best understood upon perusal ofthe following detailed description of certain specific embodiments withreference to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic sideelevational view of a transporting apparatus which embodies one form ofthe invention and is utilized to supply an uninterrupted stream of paperblanks or the like to a packing machine for cigarettes or othertobacco-containing products;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view as seen in the direction ofarrows from the line II-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing the circuit which effects automaticswitchover from severing of blanks from an exhausted web to severing ofblanks from a fresh web;

FIG. 4 illustrates a circuit which is utilized to automatically adjustthe position of blanks for transfer to the consuming machine inpredetermined positions;

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of a differential gearing which iscontrolled by the parts shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating various curves representing signalsproduced by the circuit shown in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a second transportingapparatus which forms and advances blanks consisting of metallic foil.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring first to FIG. 1,there is shown a transporting apparatus including a conveyor 1 for anuninterrupted series of successive equidistant commodities in the formof blanks 11 consisting of flexible sheet material. The conveyor 1 is arotary suction drum and serves to deliver successive blanks 11 of theseries to the rotary turret 2 of a packing machine for cigarettes,cigarillos or analogous rod-shpaed tobacco-containing products. Theturret 2 is provided with equidistant pockets for arrays 12 ofrod-shaped products; such arrays are enclosed in envelopes or aresurrounded by hollow open-ended mandrels. For example, each array 12 cancontain 20 plain cigarettes or filter cigarettes in the customaryformation, namely, two outer layers of seven cigarettes .each and amedian layer of six cigarettes. The array 12 of FIG. 1 is about to reacha discharging zone D where the blanks 11 travelling along the arcuatepath defined by the drum 1 are taken over, one after the other, by therevolving turret 2.

The drum 1 cooperates with two blank forming and feeding units 3, 4,always with one of these units at a time. The feeding unit 3 can deliverblanks 11 to a first portion of the arcuate path, namely, at a firsttransfer station A. When the unit 3 terminates such delivery, a secondportion of the arcuate path receives blanks 11 from the feeding unit 4at a second transfer station B. The distance between the transferstations A and B, as considered in the direction in which the drum 1rotates about its axis, at least equals the length of a blank 1 l.

The aforementioned arcuate path extends along the peripheral surface ofthe drum 1 which is formed with pairs of radially inwardly extendingsuction ducts 13 (see also FIG. 2) and each such pair of suction ducts13 communicates with an axially parallel suction channel 14. Thechannels 14 are blind bores which extend inwardly from one side surfaceof the drum 1 (see FIG. 2), namely, from that side surface which isadjacent to a stationary disk-shaped valve plate 16. When the ducts 13are connected with a suction generating device (e.g., a suction pump ora blower) by way of the respective channels 14 and the valve plate 16,they can hold the blanks 11 for travel with theperipheral surface of thedrum 1. The valve plate 16 is secured to the frame (not shown) of thetransporting apparatus by brackets 17 shown in FIG. 2. That surface ofthe valve plate 16 which is adjacent to the aforementioned side surfaceof the drum 1 is provided with two arcuate grooves 18 and 19 along whichthe open ends of the suction channels 14 travel when the drum 1 is inmotion. The groove 19 is relatively short and extends from the transferstation A toward but short of the transfer station B. The groove 18 islonger and extends from the transfer station B to the discharging zoneD, i.e., to the path for pockets in the turret 2 of the packing machine.The groove 19 communicates with a first suction conduit 23 connectedwith a second suction conduit 28 by means of a valve 24 which iscontrolled by an electromagnet 25. The discharge end of the secondsuction conduit'28 is connected to the aforementioned suction generatingdevice. The groove 18 communicates with a suction conduit 27 which isalso connected to the suction generating device. When the valve 24 isopen, i.e., when the groove 19 is connected with the suction generatingdevice, the area of the blank-attracting part of the peripheral surfaceon the drum 1 is increased; the drum 1 is then capable of transportingblanks 11 from the first feeding unit 3 (transfer station A) to thepockets of the turret 2. When the valve 24 is c losed,'the drum 1accepts blanks 11 from the second feeding unit 4 (transfer station B)and delivers them to the turret 2.

The blank forming and feeding units 3, 4 comprise transfer elements inthe form of rotary suction wheels 29, 31 each of which cooperates with astationary diskshaped valve plate (not specifically shown becauselocated behind the respective wheel 29, 31, as viewed in FIG. 1). Thesuction wheels 29, 31 are so-called cutting wheels and are respectivelyprovided with knives 32, 33 which serve to sever two continuous webs 61,62 of flexible starting sheet material to form the blanks 11. The mannerin which the knives 32, 33 sever the respective webs is similar to thatknown from the art of forming and feeding adhesive-coated uniting bandsto the wrapping or rolling conveyor of a machine for the production ofplain cigarettes or filter cigarettes. As mentioned above, the distancebetween the cutting wheels 29, 31 at least equals the length of a blank11. These cutting wheels are respectively provided with radiallyinwardly extending suction ducts 34, 36 which communicate with axiallyparallel suction channels 37, 38 whose open ends are adjacent to thecorresponding valve plates. The valve plate which is associated with thecutting wheel 29 is provided with two arcuate grooves 39 and 41 alongwhich the open ends of the suction channels 37 travel when the cuttingwheel 29 is in motion. The other valve plate (associated with thecutting wheel 31) is formed with arcuate grooves 47 and 48 whichcommunicate with the open ends of successive suction channels 38 whenthe cutting wheel 31 is caused to rotate. With reference to FIG. 1, thedrum 1 rotates clockwise (arrow C), the turret 2 rotatescounterclockwise, and the cutting wheels 29, 31 also rotatecounterclockwise.

The groove 39 of the valve plate behind the cutting wheel 29 isconnected with a first suction conduit 42 which is connected with asecond suction conduit 57 by way of a valve 43 controlled by anelectromagnet 44. The suction conduit 57 is connected to the suctiongenerating device. The groove 41 communicates with the suctiongenerating device by way of a further suction conduit 46. The groove 47of the valve plate behind the cutting wheel 31 is connected with a firstsuction conduit 53 which is connected with a second suction conduit 56by a valve 51 controlled by an electromagnet 52. The groove 48 isconnected to the suction generat-- ing device by a further suctionconduit 54. The conduit 56 is also connected to the suction generatingdevice.

The transporting apparatus further comprises two blank intercepting orcollecting devices 58, 59'which are respectively adjacent to the cuttingwheels 29, 31. These intercepting devices collect such blanks 11 whichrespectively travel past the transfer stations A and B but are not takenover by the suction drum 1. Thus, when the web 61 is moved lengthwiseand the knife 32 severs the leading end of such web to form a series ofsuccessive blanks 11 while the valve 43 is open, the blanks 11 arecaused to travel along the groove 39 (which is then connected with thesuction conduit 57) and into the intercepting device 58. Analogously,the intercepting device 59 receives blanks 11 when the knife 33 seversthe web 62 and the valve 51 is open so that the groove 47 is incommunication with the suction conduit 56. It will be seen that thevalves 43, 51 can increase or reduce the area of those portions ofperipheral surfaces on the cutting wheels 29, 31 which attract theblanks 11. In the transporting apparatus of FIG. 1, the groove 39 or 47is connected to the suction generating device at a timewhen thecorresponding knife 32 or 33 severs the foremost or rearmost portion ofthe web 61 or 62. The resulting blanks 1 1 (which are most likely to bedefective) are then prevented from advancing along the normal path forsuch blanks (namely, from the transfer station A past the transferstation B and on to the turret 2 or from the transfer station B to theturret 2). The thus deflected blanks 11 enter the intercepting device 58or 59.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the transportingapparatus comprises two discrete web supplying units which arerespectively arranged to advance the webs 61, 62 toward the transferstations A and B along two separate paths. These web supplying unitsrespectively comprise bobbins or reels 6, 7 of convoluted web materialand web advancing devices 8, 9 which respectively transport the webs 61,62 lengthwise. The outermost convolutions of the bobbins 6, 7 arerespectively engaged by mechanical detectors 63, 64 which are mounted onpivots 66, 67 and are biased against the respective bobbins by helicalsprings 68,69. These detectors are two-armed levers and their shorterarms contitute actuating means or trips which can respectively closesensitive limit switches 71, 72. The switch 71 is about to be actuatedbecause the supply of web 61 on the bobbin 6 is nearly exhausted. Thebobbin 7 is a fresh bobbin and, therefore, the shorter arm of thedetector 64 is remote from the movable contact of the limit switch 72.The purpose of the limit switches 71, 72 is to effect automatic shiftingor changeover from delivery of blanks l 1 to drum 1 at the transferstation A to delivery of blanks to drum 1 at the transfer station B, orvice versa. In this way, the person or persons in chage have ample timeto replace a fully exhausted bobbin with a fresh bobbin. As mentionedabove, the transporting apparatus is preferably designed in such a waythat the blanks 11 which are formed by severing of the rearmost portionof a web are caused to enter the respective intercepting device 58 or59.

The web 61 is caused to travel about a single guide roll 73 mountedbetween the advancing device 8 and the cutting wheel 29. The other web62 is caused to travel about two guide rolls 74 and 76. Two stationaryscanning or sensing devices in the form of phototubes 77, 78 arerespectively adjacent to the paths of travel of the webs 61, 62 andserve to produce electric signals at regular intervals, namely, inresponse to detection of bits of information encoded on longitudinallyspaced portions of the respective webs. Such bits of information mayrepresent a trademark or trade name of the manufacturer or they mayconsist of a row of discrete markers or notches provided on or in therespective webs for the specific purpose of being detected by thephototubes 77 and 78. The manner in which the phototubes 77, 78 insurethat the knives 32, 33 sever accurately determined portions of therespective webs 61, 62 to thus insure the transfer of blanks toaccurately determined portions of the peripheral surface on the drum 1will be described below. Phototubes which can be used in thetransporting apparatus of the present invention are photodiodes of thetype known as one-eyed detectors and are produced, for example, by theWest- German Firm Sick of Waldkirch in Breisgau. They are sold under thecatalog number NT 9a.

The advancing devices 8, 9 respectively comprise driven rollers 79, 81and shiftable idler rollers 82, 83. When the idler roller 82 is movedtoward the rotating driven roller 79 so that the web 61 is clampedbetween such rollers, the bobbin 6 is rotated clockwise to pay out theweb 61 and the web is moved lengthwise and is maintained under tensiondownstream of the advancing device 8 in response to rotation of thecutting drum 29 whose peripheral speed preferably slightly exceeds theforward speed of the web 61. Analogously, when the roller 81 rotates andthe idler roller 83 is moved in a direction to engage and clamp the web62, the bobbin 7 rotates in a counterclockwise direction and itsforemost part is maintained under tension by the cutting drum 31 whichalso rotates at a speed exceeding that of the lengthwise movement of theweb 62.

The rollers 79, 81 receive motion from the drive of the packing machineand their speed can be regulated, respectively, by differential gearings84, 86. These differential gearings are respectively adjustable byservomotors 87, 88 which receive impulses from control cir' cuits 92,93.The inputs of the circuits 92, 93 are respectively connected with twotimers 89, 91. These timers are driven by the drum 1 through theintermediary of suitable gear trains, not shown.

The function of the timers 89, 91, of the phototubes 77, 78 and thedifferential gearings 84, 86 (which are driven by the packing machineand are adjustable by the servomotors 87, 88) will be described inconnection with FIGS. 4 and 5. The parts 77, 78, 84, 86, 89, 91 and thecircuits 92, 93 together form a regulating assembly which contributes toautomatization of the transporting apparatus.

FIG. 5 shows a portion of the driven roller 79, the servomotor 87 andthe details of the differential gearing 84. The latter comprises aninput shaft 96 fixed to a driver gear 94 which receives torque from thedrive of the packing machine by way of a gear train, not shown. Theinput shaft 96 is journalled in one end wall of an adjustable casing 104and is coaxial with an output shaft 97 which is journalled in the otherend wall of the casing 104 and is fixed to the driven roller 79. Theinner end portion of the input shaft 96 is connected with a pinion 98which meshes with a gear 99 on an intermediate shaft 102 whose ends arejournalled in the end walls of the casing 104. The intermediate shaft102 is further connected with a pinion 101 which meshes with a gear 106on the output shaft 97. The pinion 98 and gear 99 are respectivelyidentical with the pinion 101 and gear 106. The diameter of the gear 99is twice the diameter of the pinion 98. The casing 104 is provided witha ring gear 107 meshing with a pinion 108 on the output shaft of theservomotor 87.

The manner in which the servomotor 87 is rotated by the control circuit92 in a clockwiseor in a counterclockwise direction to change theangular position of the casing 104 is illustrated in FIG. 4. FIG. 4further shows the timer 89 and the phototube 77. The timer 89 comprisesa disk 109 which is driven in synchronism with the drum 1 and carries anarcuate electromagnet 111 extending along an arc of A pointed secondmagnet 112 is mounted on the periphery of the disk 109 and its tip is inline with the leading end of the arcuate magnet 111, it being assumedthat the disk 109 is arranged to rotate in a counterclockwise direction.The magnets 111, 112 respectively cooperate with pointed Hall generators113, 114 which are fixedly mounted adjacent to-the paths of therespective magnets in such positions that the magnet 112 registers withthe Hall generator 1 14 when the trailing end of the magnet 111 hasmoved beyond the Hall generator 113. These positions of the magnets 111,1 12 are shown in FIG. 4. The Hall generator 113 is connected in seriesfirst with a Schmitt trigger 116, then with an AND-gate 117, anamplifier 118 and a motor relay 119 which latter controls a first motorswitch 131. The Hall generator 114 is in series with an AND-gate 121, aninverter 122, another AND-gate 123, an amplifier 124 and a second motorrelay 126 which controls a second motor switch 132. The AND-gate 123 isfurther connected with the output of the Schmitt trigger 116 by way ofan inverter 127. The phototube 77 is connected with a threshold circuit128 and a pulse or signal shaper 129 which latter is connected to a tapbetween the AND- gates 121, 123. It will be seen that the pulse orsignal shaper 129 is in parallel with the three AND-gates 1 17, 121 and123. The motor switches 131, 132 are connected in parallel and areinstalled in the circuit of the servomotor 87 to control the connectionsbetween this motor and a source 130 of polyphase current. The connectionof the switch 131 differs from the connection of the switch 132 by twointerchanged phases.

The regulating assembly which includes the servomotor 88, the timer 91and the phototube 78 is analogous to the regulating assembly shown inFIGS. 4 and 5. The purpose of the illustrated regulating assembly is todetermine the positions of successive blanks 11 with reference to theperipheral surface of the drum 1, namely, the positions of those blankswhich are obtained in response to severing of the web 61. The parts 77,128, 129 constitute a photosensitive scanning assembly which tracks theinformation encoded on the web 61. The disk 109, its magnets 1 1 1, 1 12and the Hall generators 113, 114 constitute a contactless magneticinitiator, and the differential gearing 84 constitues the adjuster ofthe regulating assembly. The exact function of the regulating assemblyis to insure that the knife 32 severs the web 61 at a predeterminedintermediate point between two successive bits of information on theweb. As stated before, such bits can be encoded for the specific purposeof being detected by the phototube 77 or they can constitute thetrademark and/or the trade name of the manufacturer.

The purpose of the electric circuit shown in FIG. 3 is to insure thatthe delivery of blanks 1 1 at the transfer station A or B isautomatically terminated when the respective web 61 or 62 is nearly orfully exhausted. Another function of this circuit is to insure that theblank forming and feeding unit 3 begins to deliver to the drum 1 blanks11 at the transfer station A and that the blank forming and feeding unit4 beings to deliver blanks 11 at the transfer station E as necessary toinsure that the drum 1 transports to the turret 2 an uninterruptedseries or stream of blanks 11 positioned at an exactly determineddistance from each other.

FIG. 3 shows the aforementioned limit siwtches 71, 72 which arerespectively actuatable by the detectors 63, 64, the shiftable idlerrollers 82, 83 of the advanc-, ing units 8, 9, the values 24, 43, 51 andthe associated electromagnets 25, 44 and 52, and the pairs of suctionconduits 23, 28; 42, 57; 53, 56. The inputs ofa flip-flop circuit 133are connected with the limit switches 71, 72 and the outputs of thisflip-flop circuit are connected with the windings of two relays 137, 138which control relay switches 134, 136. The energy source is shown at135. The idler rollers 82, 83 are respectively movable by electromagnets139, 141. Two further relays 144, 146 respectively control relayswitches 142, 143. The contacts of the relay switches shown in FIG. 3are identified by reference characters a, b, c, d and e. The relays 144and 146 are time delay relays.

It is to be noted that the transporting apparatus of FIG. 1 may comprisemore than two blank forming and feeding units and a corresponding numberof web supplying units. The circuit of FIG. 3 is then modifiedaccordingly. The main components of this circuit are the elements 139,141 which control the idler rollers82, 83, the elements 25, 44, 52 whichcontrol the valves 24, 43, 51 and the elements 71, 72 which adjust theflipflop circuit 133 as a function of the length of the webs 61, 62.

The Operation Referring again to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the drive of thepacking machine'rotates the turret 2, the drum 1, the timers 89, 91, thedriven rollers 79, 81 and the cutting wheels 29, 31. Those pockets ofthe turret 2 which approach the drum 1 (discharging zone D) containarrays 12 of rod-shaped articles. The idler roller 82 engages the web 61so that the latter is transported past the phototube 77 and toward theperipheral surface of the cutting wheel 29. The supply of web 61 on thebobbin 6 is nearly exhausted, i.e., the shorter arm of the detectorlevel 63 is about to actuate the limit switch 71. The peripheral speedof the cutting wheel 29 exceeds the forward speed of the web 61 so thatthe latter is tensioned intermediate the nip between the rollers 79, 82and the transfer station A. Thus, there is some slippage between theperipheral surface of the cutting wheel 29 and the foremost part of theweb 61. The knife 32 severs the web 61 at predetermined intervals and atexactly determined points between successive bits of information on theweb 61 to form a succession of blanks 11 which are taken over andtransported by the drum 1 because the groove 19 of'the valve plate 16 isconnected with the suction generating device by way of the valve 24. Theperipheral speed of the drum 1 is also greater than the speed of the web61. This is desirable to insure the formation of clearances betweensuccessive blanks 11 on the drum 1. Such clearances are necessary inorder to make sure that a predetermined portion of each blank 11overlies the open outer side of the respective pocket in the turret 2 atthe discharging zone D.

The front portion of the fresh web 62 is threaded between the rollers81, 83 and passes around the guide rolls 74, 76 and the periphery of thecutting wheel 31. However, the electromagnet 141 (FIG. 3) is deenergizedso that the idler roller 83 does not cooperate with the driven roller 81and the web 62 is not caused to travel lengthwise. The leading end ofthe web 62 overlies the groove 48 of the valve plate behind the cuttingwheel 31 which latter rotates at the speed of the cutting wheel 29. Theorbiting knife 33 comes close to the peripheral surface of the drum 1during each revolution of the cutting drum 31 but with no effect becausethe web 62 does not move lengthwise and its leading end is locatedslightly behind the transfer station B where the servering of the web 62takes place when the advancing device 9 is operative. The arrangement issuch that the knife 31 comes close to the peripheral surface of the drum1 (transfer station B) in the clearances between successive blanks 11which are formedat the transfer station A. Thus, the peripheral surfaceof the cutting wheel 31 and the knife 33 merely slide along the web 62without the formation of blanks 11. However, since the groove 48 ispermanently connected with the suction generating device by way of thesuction conduit 54, the leading end of the web 62 is caused to adhere tothe peripheral surface of the cutting wheel 31. The groove 41 of thevalve plate behind the cutting wheel 29 is also permanently connectedwith the suction generating device by way of the suction conduit 46.

When the supply of web 61 on the bobbin 6 is nearly fully exhausted, thedetector 63 actuates the limit switch 71 which in turn adjusts theflip-flop circuit 133 (FIG. 3) so that the latter energizes the relay138 for the switch 136. The latter closes its contact a to therebyenergize the electromagnet 141 which moves the idler roller 83 againstthe web 62. Thus, the web 62 begins to move lengthwise toward thetransfer station B. At the same time, the contact a of the switch 136completes the circuit of the electromagnet 52 by way of the contact d ofthe switch 143 (which is controlled by the time delay relay 146). Theelectromagnet S2 is energized and opens the valve 51 so that the groove47 of the valve plate behind the cutting wheel 31 is connected with thesuction generating device by way of the conduits 53 and 56. Thus, thoughthe knife 33 severs the web 62 at the transfer station B, the firstblanks 11 are caused to adhere to the peripheral surface of the cuttingwheel 31 along the groove 47 and are introduced into the interceptingdevice 59. In the meantime, the time delay relay 146 is energized with apredetermined delay to change the positions of moving contacts in theswitch 143 with the following results.

The contact e of the switch 143 opens to deenergize the electromagnet139 which permit or causes the idler roller 82 to move away from thedriven roller 79 and to thus arrest the forward movement of the web 61.The contact b of the switch 143 closes to energize the electromagnet 44for the valve 43 by way of the closed contact a of the relay switch 142.The valve 43 connects the suction generating device with the groove 39of the valve plate behind the cutting wheel 29 by way of the conduits 42and 57 so that the blanks 11 formed in response to severing of the web61 by the knife 32 at the transfer station A adhere to the peripheralsurface of the cutting wheel 29 and enter the intercepting device 58.The contact of the switch 143 opens to deenergize the electromagnet 25which causes or permits the valve 24 to close and to thus seal thesuction generating device from the groove 19 in the valve plate 16.Therefore, no blanks 11 are transported from the transfer station Atoward the transfer station B. Also each of the blanks 11 formed by theknife 32 is evacuated from the feeding unit 3 by entering theintercepting device 58. The contact d of the switch 143 opens anddeenergizes the electromagnet 52 to effect closing of the valve 51 whichseals the suction generating device from the groove 47 in the valveplate behind the cutting wheel 31. Consequently, the blanks 11 which areformed by severing the web 62 with the knife 33 are prevented fromentering the intercepting device 59; they are caused to adhere to theperipheral surface of the drum 1 and are transported from the transferstation B toward the turret 2 (discharging zone D). The operator is freeto remove the core of the bobbin 6 and to replace it with a freshbobbin. The foremost part of the web on such fresh bobbin is threadedbetween the rollers 79, 82, around the guide roll 73, and its leadingend is placed against the peripheral surface of the cutting wheel 29 inthe region of the stationary groove 41 which is permanently connected tothe suction generating device by the suction conduit 46. Placing of thefresh bobbin into the space previously occupied by the expired bobbin 6causes the shorter arm of the detector lever 63 to move away from thelimit switch 71 but with no result because the flip-flop circuit 133 isadjusted again only in response to closing of the limit switch 72, i.e.,in response to almost total exhaustion of the running web 62.

When the diameter of the bobbin 7 is reduced to a certain minimum value,the detector 64 actuates the limit switch 72 which in turn adjusts theflip-flop circuit 133 with the result that the transporting apparatusautomatically switches from delivery of blanks 11 at the transferstation B to delivery of blanks at the transfer station A in thefollowing way. The flip-flop circuit 133 energizes the relay 137 whichactuates the switch 134 to close the latters contacts a and b. Thecontact a of the switch 134 energizes the electromagnet 139 which shiftsthe idler roller 82 toward the driven roller 79 to start lengthwisemovement of the fresh web 61 (it is to be recalled that, duringwithdrawal of the web 62, the exhausted bobbin 6 was replaced with afresh bobbin 6 containing a full supply of web 61). The contact b of theswitch 134 energizes the time delay relay 144 which actuates the switch142 to open the latters contact a and to thus deenergize theelectromagnet 44 for the valve 43. The valve 43 closes and seals thegroove 39 of the valve plate behind the cutting wheel 29 from thesuction generating device. The contact b of the switch 142 closes andenergizes the electromagnet 52 which opens the valve 51 to connect thegroove 47 of the valve plate behind the cutting wheel 31 with thesuction generating device. Therefore, the last few blanks 11 which areformed by the knife 33 of the cutting wheel 31 are caused to adhere tothe periphery of the cutting wheel 31 along the groove 47 and enter theintercepting device 59. The contact C of the switch 142 also closes andenergizes the electromagnet 25 which opens I the valve 24 to thusconnect the groove 19 of the valve plate 16 with the suction generatingdevice. Therefore, the blanks 11 which are formed by the knife 32 of thecutting wheel 29 immediately adhere to the peripheral surface of thedrum 1 and travel from the transfer station A, past the transfer stationE and on toward the turret 2, namely, to the discharging zone D.

It is assumed that the webs 61 and 62 are provided with encodedinformation in the form of bits which are tracked or scanned by thephototubes 77 and 78. Such bits enable the transporting apparatus toeffect severing of the webs 61 and 62 at predetermined points betweensuccessive bits, or in the region of such bits, in order to insure thatthe trade name or trademark of the manufacturer or other matter which isimprinted on or otherwise applied to the webs appears on de-siredportions of a finished cigarette pack. Such function is performed inconnection with the web 61 by the structure shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 ofthe drawing. The operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 4,5 and also with reference to FIG. 6which illustrates curves representingsignals or pulses produced by the phototube 77 and Hall generators 113,114. i

The phototube 77 scans the travelling web 61 and produces a pulse orsignal 147 or 148 or 149 (see the curves 151, 152 and 153 of FIG. 6)whenever it detects a bit on the web. The disk 109 of the timer 89completes a full revolution during each stage of operation of thepacking machine, namely, while the array 12a shown in the upperright-hand portion of FIG. 1 moves from the illustrated position intothe space (discharging zone D) occupied by the preceding array 12.During each of its full revolutions, the disk 109 causes the generationof two signals, namely, a directional signal 156 (see the curve 154 ofFIG. 6) produced by the Hall generator 113 and a comparison signal 158(see the curve 157 of FIG. 6) produced by the Hall generator 114. Thedirectional signal 156 is rather long because it is produced while thearcuate magnet 1 1 travels along the tip of the Hall generator 113. Onthe other hand, the

comparison signal 158 is short and its timing coincides with the end ofthe signal 156. It will be seen that the phototube 77 and the Hallgenerators 113, 114 produce three signals, namely a signal 147 or 148 or149, a directional signal 156 and a comparison signal 158. Whether thephototube 77 produces a signal 147 or 148 or 149 depends on therelationship between the moment when this phototube detects a bit on thetravelling web 61 and the moment when the magnet 112 causes the Hallgenerator 1 14 to produce a comparison signal 158. The signal 147 isgenerated prior to the comparison signal 158; the timing of the signal148 co incides with timing of the comparison signal 158; and the signal149 is produced after the comparison signal 158. Thus, the signal 147 isproduced during generation of the directional signal 156 and the signal149 is generated after completion of the directional signal 156.

When the phototube 77 produces a signal 147, the latter is amplified bythe threshold circuit 128 and shaped by the pulse shaper 129 and isthereupon transmitted to the AND-gates 117, 121 and 123. The other inputof the AND-gate 117 simultaneously receives a directional signal 156from the Hall generator 113; such directional signal is shaped by theSchmitt trigger 116. Thus, each input of the AND-gate 117 receives asignal and, therefore, the output of the AND-gate 117 transmits a signalto the amplifier 1 18 and thence to the relay 119 for the motor switch131. The switch 131 closes for an interval of time which is determinedby the amplifier 118. During the interval when the switch 131 is closed,the servomotor 87 rotates the casing 104 of the differential gearing 84(FIG. by way of the pinion 108 and ring gear 107 whereby the casing 104rotates in the same direction as the driven roller 79 to thus acceleratethe forward movement of the web 61. During such operation of theservomotor 87, the AND- gate 121 receives a signal from the pulse shaper129 but not from the Hall generator 114 because the latter is not inregistry with the pointed magnet 1 12 on the revolving disk 109.Therefore, the output of the AND- gate 121 does not emit a signal. TheSchmitt trigger 116 transmits the directional signal 156 on the inverter127 which inverts such signal so that the AND-gate 123 cannot transmit asignal to the amplifier 124 and relay 126. The adjustment of the casing104 in response to closing of the motor switch 131 suffices to insurethat the next signals produced by the phototube 77 are signals 148.

When the phototube 77 produces a signal 148, its timing coincides withthat of the comparison signal 158. This means that one input of theAND-gate 117 receives from the pulse shaper 129 a singal (148) after theHall generator 113 ceases to transmit a directional signal 156 to theother input of the AND-gate 117; therefore, the output of the AND-gate117 cannot transmit a signal and the relay 119 for the motor switch 131remains deenergized. When the pulse shaper 129 transmits a signal 148 tothe corresponding input of the AND-gate 121, the other input of theAND-gate 121 receives from the Hall generator 114 a comparison signal158. Thus, the output of the AND-gate 121 transmits a signal to theinverter 122 which inverts the signal so that the corresponding input ofthe AND-gate 123 fails to receive a signal which is necessary to send asignal on to the amplifier 124 in order to energize the relay 126. Thus,the switches 131, 132 remain open and the casing 104 of the differentialgearing 84 remains in its position because the timing of the travel ofbits past the phototube 77 requires no correction.

When the phototube 77 produces a signal 149, the latter is amplified,shaped and transmitted to the corresponding inputs of the AND-gates 117,121 and 123. The other input of the AND-gate 117 does not receive adirectional signal 156 (because the arcuate magnet 111 has already movedpast the Hall generator 113) and the other input of the AND-gate 121does not receive a comparison signal 158 because the magnet 112 hasalready moved past the Hall generator 114. Consequently, the relay 119remains deenergized and the output of the AND-gate also fails totransmit a signal. Thus, the input of inverter 122 does not receive asignal but its output transmits a signal to the corresponding input ofthe AND-gate 123. The input of the inverter 127 also fails to receive adirectional signal 156 from the Schmitt trigger 116; therefore theoutput of the inverter 127 transmits a positive signal to thecorresponding input of the AND-gate 123. Thus, the AND-gate 123 receivesthree positive signals and it consequently transmits a signal to theamplifier 124 which causes energization of the relay 126 which closesthe motor switch 132. The servomotor 87 rotates the casing 104 of FIG. 5counter to the direction of rotation of the driven roller 79 so that thespeed of the web 61 is reduced until the signal (148) produced by thephototube 77 coincides with the comparison signal 158.

The just described system automatically insures that the web 61 issevered at desired points to thus insure that the printed matter on eachblank 66 is located on a desired portion of the cigarette pack.

Since the transporting apparatus includes means 98, 73 and 9, 74, 76)for delivering to the transfer stations A and B two webs 61, 62 alongseparate paths, the danger that the operations of the units 3 and 4would overlap is eliminated and the unit 4 has ample time to startdelivery of blanks to the drum 1 subsequent to termination of deliveryby the unit 3 because the portion of the arcuate path between thetransfer stations A and B can accommodate at least one blank 11 whichadvances from the transfer station A toward and past the transferstation B prior to start of delivery of blanks by the suction wheel 31,i.e., prior to sealing of the groove 47 from the suction generatingdevice. inversely, the suction wheel 31 continues to deliver blanks 1 lto the suction drum 1 at the transfer station B while the suction wheel29 begins delivery of blanks at the transfer station A. The delivery ofblanks by the suction wheel 31 is terminated when the portion of thepath between the transfer stations A and B contains at least one blank.

FIG. 7 illustrates a portion of a second transporting apparatus whereinthe conveyor 201 corresponding to the suction drum 1 of FIG. 1 comprisestwo endless foraminous bands or belts 202, 203 disposed in twohorizontal planes with the belt 202 located at a level above the belt203. These belts serve for sidewise transport of blanks 204 consistingof metallic foil and obtained in response to severing of a web 206 or207. The direction (arrow 227-) in which'the blanks 204 travel sidewayswith the front stretches of the belts 202, 203 is normal to thedirection of intermittent lengthwise travel of the webs 206, 207. Thebelts 202, 203 are trained over a first pair of fixedly mounted pulleys208 which rotate in the direction indicated by arrow 228 and a secondpair of coaxial fixedly mounted pulleys 209 which are rotated by thedrive for the packing machine. The front stretch of the upper belt 203travels along stationary suction chambers 238, 221a, 241, 221b and thefront stretch of the lower belt 202 travels along stationary suctionchambers 239, 222a, 242, 222b. The chambers 238, 239 are adjacent to thepath of downward movement of the web 206, the chambers 241, 242 areadjacent to the path of downward movement of the web 207, the chambers221a, 222a are disposed between the two paths, and the chambers 221b,222b are located downstream of or past the chambers 241, 242, as

considered in the direction of travel of the blanks 204 (arrow 227). Thesuction chambers have open sides which are adjacent to the frontstretches of the respective belts, and, when a chamber is connected to asuction generating device, it enables the corresponding belt to move ablank 204 toward the intersection (discharging zone 229) where theconveyor 201 delivers blanks 204 to the packing machine. The chambers221a, 222a, 2211) and 222b are permanently connected with the suctiongenerating device (e. g., to a pump or blower). The chambers 238, 241,239, 242 are connectable with the suction generating device in responseto opening of suitable solenoid-operated valves substantially in thesame way as described in connection with the valves 24, 43, 51 of FIGS.1 and 3.

The webs 206, 207 are respectively stored on bobbins 211, 212 which arerotatably mounted at a level above the upper belt 203 and whosediameters are respectively scanned by detectors each including a lightsource (not shown) and a photosensitive receiver 213, 214. The receiver213 is about to receive light from the associated source because thesupply of web 206 on the core of the bobbin 211 is nearly exhausted. Thebobbin 212 is fresh, i.e., it contains a full supply of convoluted webmaterial and, therefore, the receiver 214 cannot receive light from theassociated source.

The signals produced by the photosensitive receiver 213 or 214 inresponse to exhaustion of web material on the adjacent core areamplified in a conventional way and are used to actuate anelectromagnetic changeover clutch 216. This clutch is the output elementof the drive for two advancing devices 217, 218 which respectively serveto transport the webs 206, 207 downwardly toward the belts 202, 203.Each of these advancing devices comprises two rollers one of which canbe driven by the clutch 216. The function of the aforementionedphotoresponsive detectors including the receivers 213, 214 is analogousto that of the detector levers 63, 64 shown in FIG. 1 and the manner inwhich the clutch 216 is energizable to drive the advancing device 217 or218 is analogous to the manner in which the limit switches 71, 72cooperate with the flipflop circuit 133 to energize the electromagnet139 or 141.

A manually operable lever 219 is mounted in a housing 223 whichaccommodates the clutch 216. The lever 219 can be manipulated tomanually set the clutch 216 either to drive one roller of the advancingdevice 217 or one roller of the advancing device 218. The housing 223further contains a control circuit, analogous to that shown in FIG. 3,and regulating means for two cutting devices 224, 226 of known designwhich are provided to respectively sever the web 206 and web 207.

The front stretches of the conveyor belts 202, 203 intersect at rightangles the path 231 defined by a guide trough 231a disposed at the lowerend of a duct 233 containing a stack of arrays each including apredetermined number of cigarettes or other rod-shaped products 232. Atransfer member or pusher 236 is reciprocable in and counter to thedirection indicated by arrow 237 to shift the lowermost array ofcigarettes 232 against the foremost blank 204 whereby the blank ispartially draped around such array during travel at the intersection 229of paths for the blanks and for the arrays. The thus partially deformedblank is thereupon converted into an envelope in a manner not formingpart of the present invention. The intersection 229 is located in thespace between the front stretches of the belts 202, 203. The arrays areformed in the packing machine and each such array contains a hollowmandrel 234 for the cigarettes 232. The pusher 236 is reciprocated insynchronism with the operation of the ma chine which furnishes thearrays including the mandrels 234. The intersection 229 may accommodatea suitable mouthpiece or an analogous confining member through which theforemost blank 204 passes during partial draping around the respectivehollow mandrel 234. The function of the mouthpiece is to convert theblank 204 into a U-shaped body which is thereupon further deformed in awell-known manner to form a metallic envelope around the contents of themandrel 234.

The operation of the transporting apparatus shown in FIG. 7 is asfollows The foraminous belts 202, 203 of the conveyor 201 areintermittently driven by the pulleys 209 in synchronism with operationof the packing machine so that their front stretches, as viewed in FIG.7, travel at intervals in the direction indicated by the arrow 227. Thesuction chambers 221a, 222a, 221b, 222b are connected with the suctiongenerating device and cause streams of air to pass forwardly through theperforations or interstices of the front stretches of belts 202, 203.The clutch 216 is set in such a way that it intermittently drives therollers of the web advancing device 217 in synchronism with operation ofthe packing machine. The bobbin 211 pays out the web 206 which travelsdownwardly toward the station A behind the suction chambers 238, 239which are then sealed from the suction generating device. The frontstretches of the belts 202, 203 do not interfere with downward movementof the lowermost portion of the web 206 because the belts are at astandstill. When the rollers of the advancing device 217 come to astandstill, the knives of the cutting device 224 sever the web 206 toform a blank 204 and the chambers 238, 239 are connected to the suctiongenerating device to enable the belts 202, 203 to entrain the freshlyformed blank 204 toward and past the suction chambers 221a, 222a whichare already connected to the suction generating device. The belts 202',203 are set in motion when the rollers of the advancing device 217 areidle, and vice versa.

When the rollers of the advancing device 217 are idle, the belts 202,203 advance the freshly formed blank 204 into registry with the suctionchambers 221a, 222a which attract the blank as the belts come to astandstill. The chambers 238, 239 are thereupon disconnected from thesuction generating device, the rollers of the advancing device 217 arestarted to advance the web 206 by the length of a blank, the cuttingdevice 224 is actuated to form a blank 204, and the belts 202, 203 areset in motion simultaneously with the connection of chambers 238, 239 tothe suction generating device to advance the last blank 204 intoregistry with the suction chambers 221a, 222a. The same procedure isrepeated again and again so that the length of the web 206 decreasesprogressively and the knives of the cutting device 224 form a series ofsuccessive blanks 204 which are moved stepwise into registry with thesuction chambers 221a, 222a, thereupon into registry with the suctionchambers 241, 242, then into registry with the suction chambers 221b,222b, and finally into registry with the lowermost array in the mandrel234 resting on the guide 231a. When the clutch 216 is set tointermittently drive the rollers of the advancing device 217, thechambers 241, 242 are continuously connected with the suction generatingdevice so that a blank 204 which has moved past the suction chambers221a, 222a is constantly attracted to the front stretches of the belts202, 203 during travel toward the junction 229, i.e., toward thedischarging zone between the conveyor 201 and the packing machine. Thepusher 236 performs a forward stroke (arrow 237) during each intervalbetween successive intermittent advances of the belts 202, 203 so thatthe foremost blank 204 is stripped off the front stretches of thesebelts and is draped around the adjacent mandrel 234. The pusher 236 isretracted before the belts 202, 203 move the next blank 204 to thedischarging zone. The freshly draped blank 204 can be deformed bytucking, pressing, folding and like instrumentalities which are locatedadjacent to the path 231 behind the junction 229.

When the detector including the photosensitive re-' ceiver 213 detectsthat the supply of web 206 on the bobbin 211 is nearly exhausted, thereceiver 213 produces a signal which is transmitted to the controlcircuit in the housing 223. Such signal is used to deenergize the clutch216 and to hold the rollers of the advancing device 217 at a standstillduring a single stage of operation of the packing machine. Uponcompletion of the third stage of operation of the packing machine, theclutch 216 is set automatically to intermittently drive the rollers ofthe advancing device 218 for the fresh web 207. The last blank 204 whichwas formed by the knives of the cutting device 224 is then locatedbehind the suction chambers 22lb, 222b past the transfer station B wherethe web 207 is subdivided to yield blanks 204. The suction chambers 241,242 are sealed from the suction generating device when the advancingdevice 218 moves the web 207 downwardly, and the belts 202 are then at astandstill. When the knives of the cutting device 226 complete thesevering of the web 207 to form a fresh blank 204, the chambers 241, 242are reconnected with the suction generating device and the belts 202,203 are started to advance the blank by a step into registry with thesuction chambers 221b, 222b which are continuously in communication withthe suction generating device. Thus, the junction 229 continues toreceive a continuous stream of equidistant blanks 204 which, however,are obtained in response to intermittent severing of the web 207.

If the means for forming and feeding of blanks 204 fail to operateproperly, e.g., if the feed of blanks is interrupted prior to completeexhaustion of the web 206 or 207, the operator can intervene byactuating the lever 219 to change the setting of the clutch 216 and tothus change over from severing of the web 206 to severing of the web 207or vice versa in the same way as when the changeover takes place inresponse to the signal from the photosensitive receiver 213 or 214. Thelever 219 can also be moved to a position in which the clutch 216 isdisengaged.

It is clear that the optical detectors (including the receivers 213,214) of FIG. 7 can be replaced with mechanical detectors (63, 64 of FIG.1), with pneumatic detectors or any other means which is capable ofscanning the progress of exhaustion of the webs and of producing signalsusable to effect a changeover from delivery of blanks at the transferstaion A to delivery of blanks at the transfer station B or vice versa.It is further clear that, when each of the bobbins contains apredetermined length of convoluted sheet-like material, the detectormeans may include suitable counters (analogous to frame counters inmotion picture cameras) which measure the length of the withdrawnportions of the webs and automatically terminate the delivery of blanksat the transfer station A or when the web 61 (206) or 62 (207) hasalready yielded a certain number of blanks 11 or 204.

The transporting apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 7 exhibit the advantage thatthe packing machine or another consuming machine receives anuninterrupted stream of blanks 11 or 204 (or other discrete commodities)so that the output of the consuming machine is not affected by the factthat the source of commodities is exhausted at shorter or longerintervals. Also, the transporting apparatus can maintain a desireddistance between successively delivered commodities. The replacement ofbobbins or other sources of commodities is simple and convenient; also,the operator has ample time to replace an exhausted source with a freshsource so that the operation of the transporting apparatus need not besupervised at all times. A periodic inspection at intervals shorter thanthose required to subdivide a full-length web suffices to insure thatthe feeding of commodities is not interrupted. The replacement of anexhausted bobbin with a fresh bobbin or another source of commoditiesnecessitiates no stoppage of the consuming machine.

Another advantageous feature of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is that itcan automatically adjust the feeding of comodities in accordance withsignals generated on detection of bits of information which are encodedon or in the traveling web 61 or 62. It is norm ally impossible tocompletely avoid any shifting or blanks consisting of paper, foil or thelike so that an automatic adjustment of the positioning of blanks on theconveyor is a decided advantage in such types of apparatus. The shiftingof blanks can take place due to unpredictable elongation or shrinkageofa web, due to minute inaccuracies in synchronization of the movementsof various parts, and/or for other reasons. The apparatus of FIG. 7 isalso provided with a monitoring system which can include structuresimilar to that shown in FIGS. 4 and The transporting apparatus of thepresent invention can be utilized with advantage for delivery ofcommodities to high-speed consuming machines to insure uninterruptedfeeding, proper positioning and automatic adjustment in the event ofinaccuracies in feed, as well as to avoid constant supervision andfrequent replacement of exhaust bobbins or like sources of commodities.It is clear that, with minor adjustments, the apparatus of FIG. 1 or 7can be set up to employ three or even more sources of blanks so as tofurther increase the length of intervals between successive replacementsof exhausted bobbins or the like.

Suction conveyors utilizing rotary drums or one or more foraminous beltsare preferred in apparatus which are designed for transport ofsheet-like commodities, particularly of blanks which consist ofrelatively thin and readily flexible sheet material. Such conveyors arecapable of confining blanks against movement away from the predeterminedpath and of advancing the blanks toward the consuming station withoutpermitting uncontrolled shifting of blanks during transport. A conveyorincluding a suction drum is preferred in a compact transportingapparatus.

The information which is tracked by the phototubes 77, 78 or byanalogous scanning devices will be applied to the webs when thecustomary printed matter (such as trademarks or the like) is not appliedwith a high degree of accuracy. The apparatus would be likely to severthe webs 61, 62 at irregular intervals if the phototubes 77, 78 wereused to scan a row of printed matter which is applied to such webs atunequal intervals. Severing of webs at such points that the printedmatter on the blanks is invariably located in the same position isdesirable to enhance the appearance and the sales appeal of the finalproducts, for example, packs of cigarettes or the like.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,readily adapt it for various applications without omitting featureswhich fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic andspecific aspects of my contribution to the art and, therefore, suchadaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within themeaning and range of equivalence of the claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims.

1. Apparatus for subdividing elongated webs of wrapping or othermaterial into discrete blanks for transport to a consuming machine,particularly to a packing machine for the processing oftobacco-containing products or the like, comprising a continuouslydriven conveyor arranged to advance a continuous stream of at leastsubstantially equidistant blanks to a consuming machine along anelongated path; a plurality of sources each containing an exhaustiblesupply of web; a plurality of advancing means, one for each of saidsources and each activatable to advance the web from the respectivesource toward said path; severing means for subdividing the advancingweb into a series of blanks which enter said path to constitute aportion of said stream; detector means adjacent to said sources andarranged to produce signals in response to at least substantialexhaustion of the respective supply of web; and changeover meansarranged to deactivate the respective advancing means in response tosaid signals and to activate another advancing means so that the thusactivated advancing means advances the web from the respective sourcefor subdivision of such web into a series of blanks which enter saidpath to constitute the next portion of said stream.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said conveyor is a suctionconveyor.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said conveyor is a rotarysuction drum.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said path extends along theperiphery of said drum and said drum is provided with peripheral suctionducts, and further comprising a stationary valve member adjacent to saiddrum and arranged to regulate the suction in said ducts.

5. Apparatus for subdividing elongated webs of wrapping or othermaterial into discrete blanks for transport to a consuming machine,particularly to a machine for the processing of tobacco-containingproducts or the like, comprising a rotary suction conveyor arranged toadvance blanks to a consuming machine along an elongated path extendingalong the periphery of said conveyor, said conveyor being provided withperipheral ducts; a stationary valve member adjacent to said conveyorand arranged to regulate the pressure in said ducts; a plurality ofblank forming and feeding units adjacent to said path and each includingmeans for subdividing a web into a series of successive blanks andtransfer means operative to deliver blanks into the adjoining portion ofsaid path; and changeover means arranged to operate one of said transfermeans at a time so that the conveyor delivers to the consuming machine acontinuous stream of blanks in a predetermined distribution.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said conveyor comprises atleast one endless foraminous belt and suction chamber means adjacent tosaid belt.

7. Apparatus for subdividing elongated webs of wrapping or othermaterial into discrete blanks for a consuming machining, particularly toa machine for the processing of tobacco-containing products or the like,comprising a conveyor arranged to advance blanks to a consuming machinealong an elongated path having first and second portions and a thirdportion extending between said first and second portions and alongenough to accommodate at least one blank; a plurality of blank formingand feeding units including first and second units respectively adjacentto said first and second portions of said path and each including meansfor subdividing a web into a series of successive blanks and transfermeans operative to deliver blanks into the adjoining portion of saidpath; and changeover means arranged to operate one of said transfermeans at a time so that the conveyor delivers to the consuming machine acontinous stream of blanks in a predetermined distribution.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein each of said transfer meanscomprises a rotary wheel and said severing means comprises knife meanson the respective wheels.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said wheels are providedwith peripheral suction ducts to attract portions of the respectivewebs.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein each of said units furthercomprises a valve member adjacent to the respective wheel and arrangedto regulate suction in the corresponding suction ducts.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10, further comprising means forchanging the number of those suction ducts in said wheels which attractthe respective webs.

12. Apparatus for subdividing elongated webs of wrapping or othermaterial into discrete blanks for transport to a consuming machine,particularly to a machine for the processing tobacco-containingproducts.

or the like, comprising a conveyor arranged to advance blanks to aconsuming machine along an elongated path; a plurality of blank formingand feeding units adjacent to said path and each including means forsubdividing a web into a series of successive blanks and transfer meansoperative to deliver blanks into the adjoining portion of said path,said units including a first and a second unit; separate soruces of websfor said units; discrete advancing means operative to transport the websfrom said source to the respective units; and changeover means arrangedto operate one of said transfer units at a time so that the conveyordelivers to the consuming machine a continuous stream of blanks in apredetermined distribution, said changeover means comprising means foroperating one of said advancing means at a time.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 12, further com prising detector meansfor scanning said sources and for actuating said changeover means inresponse to at least substantial exhaustion of a source.

14. Apparatus for subdividing elongated webs of wrapping material whichare provided with bits of information encoded therein into discreteblanks for transport to a consuming machine, particularly to a machinefor the processing of tobacco-containing products or the like,comprising a conveyor arranged to advance blanks to a consuming machinealong an elongated path; a plurality of blank forming and feeding unitsadjacent to said path and each including means for subdividing a webinto a series of successive blanks and transfer means operative todeliver blanks into the adjoining portion of said path; adjustableadvancing means for moving the webs lengthwise toward the respectiveunits; scanning means adjacent to the webs and arranged to producesignals in response to detection of bits of information therein; controlmeans for adjusting said advancing means in response to said signals;and changeover means arranged to operate one of said transfer means at atime so that the conveyor delivers to the consuming machine a continuousstream of blanks in a predetermined distribution.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said control meanscomprise adjustable differential gearings for said adjusting means,servomotors for adjusting said gearings, said control circuits arrangedto operate said servomotors in response to signals from the respectivescanning means.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 15, further comprising timer meansoperating in synchronism with the consuming machine and arranged totransmit signals to said control circuits.

17. Apparatus for subdividing elongated webs of wrapping or othermaterial into discrete blanks for transport to a consuming machine,particularly to a machine for the processing of tobacco-containingproducts or the like, comprising a suction conveyor arranged to advanceblanks to a consuming machine along an elongated path; a plurality ofblank forming and feeding units adjacent to said path and each includingmeans for subdividing a web into a series of successive blanks andtransfer means operative to deliver blanks into the adjoining portion ofsaid path, said transfer means including suction wheels; and changeovermeans arranged to operate one of said transfer means at a time so thatthe conveyor delivers to the consuming machine a continuous stream ofblanks in a predetermined distribution, said changeover means includingvalve means for regulating the suction in said conveyor and said wheels.

18. Apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein said changeover meansfurther comprises electromagnets energizable to change the positions ofsaid valves and means for changing the condition of said electromagnetsin response to at least substantial exhaustion of the webs.

19. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said severing meanscomprises a severing device for each of said advancing means, andfurther comprises means for independently operating each of saidsevering devices so that only that severing device which is associatedwith the activated advancing means is operative at any time,

1. Apparatus for subdividing elongated webs of wrapping or othermaterial into discrete blanks for transport to a consuming machine,particularly to a packing machine for the processing oftobacco-containing products or the like, comprising a continuouslydriven conveyor arranged to advance a continuous stream of at leastsubstantially equidistant blanks to a consuming machine along anelongated path; a plurality of sources each containing an exhaustiblesupply of web; a plurality of advancing means, one for each of saidsources and each activatable to advance the web from the respectivesource toward said path; severing means for subdividing the advancingweb into a series of blanks which enter said path to constitute aportion of said stream; detector means adjacent to said sources andarranged to produce signals in response to at least substantialexhaustion of the respective supply of web; and changeover meansarranged to deactivate the respective advancing means in response tosaid signals and to activate another advancing means so that the thusactivated advancing means advances the web from the respective sourcefor subdivision of such web into a series of blanks which enter saidpath to constitute the next portion of said stream.
 2. Apparatus asdefined in claim 1 wherein said conveyor is a suction conveyor. 3.Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said conveyor is a rotarysuction drum.
 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said pathextends along the periphery of said drum and said drum is provided withperipheral suction ducts, and further comprising a stationary valvemember adjacent to said drum and arranged to regulate the suction insaid ducts.
 5. Apparatus for subdividing elongated webs of wrapping orother material into discrete blanks for transport to a consumingmachine, particularly to a machine for the processing oftobacco-containing products or the like, comprising a rotary suctionconveyor arranged to advance blanks to a consuming mAchine along anelongated path extending along the periphery of said conveyor, saidconveyor being provided with peripheral ducts; a stationary valve memberadjacent to said conveyor and arranged to regulate the pressure in saidducts; a plurality of blank forming and feeding units adjacent to saidpath and each including means for subdividing a web into a series ofsuccessive blanks and transfer means operative to deliver blanks intothe adjoining portion of said path; and changeover means arranged tooperate one of said transfer means at a time so that the conveyordelivers to the consuming machine a continuous stream of blanks in apredetermined distribution.
 6. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, whereinsaid conveyor comprises at least one endless foraminous belt and suctionchamber means adjacent to said belt.
 7. Apparatus for subdividingelongated webs of wrapping or other material into discrete blanks for aconsuming machining, particularly to a machine for the processing oftobacco-containing products or the like, comprising a conveyor arrangedto advance blanks to a consuming machine along an elongated path havingfirst and second portions and a third portion extending between saidfirst and second portions and along enough to accommodate at least oneblank; a plurality of blank forming and feeding units including firstand second units respectively adjacent to said first and second portionsof said path and each including means for subdividing a web into aseries of successive blanks and transfer means operative to deliverblanks into the adjoining portion of said path; and changeover meansarranged to operate one of said transfer means at a time so that theconveyor delivers to the consuming machine a continous stream of blanksin a predetermined distribution.
 8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7,wherein each of said transfer means comprises a rotary wheel and saidsevering means comprises knife means on the respective wheels. 9.Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said wheels are provided withperipheral suction ducts to attract portions of the respective webs. 10.Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein each of said units furthercomprises a valve member adjacent to the respective wheel and arrangedto regulate suction in the corresponding suction ducts.
 11. Apparatus asdefined in claim 10, further comprising means for changing the number ofthose suction ducts in said wheels which attract the respective webs.12. Apparatus for subdividing elongated webs of wrapping or othermaterial into discrete blanks for transport to a consuming machine,particularly to a machine for the processing tobacco-containing productsor the like, comprising a conveyor arranged to advance blanks to aconsuming machine along an elongated path; a plurality of blank formingand feeding units adjacent to said path and each including means forsubdividing a web into a series of successive blanks and transfer meansoperative to deliver blanks into the adjoining portion of said path,said units including a first and a second unit; separate soruces of websfor said units; discrete advancing means operative to transport the websfrom said source to the respective units; and changeover means arrangedto operate one of said transfer units at a time so that the conveyordelivers to the consuming machine a continuous stream of blanks in apredetermined distribution, said changeover means comprising means foroperating one of said advancing means at a time.
 13. Apparatus asdefined in claim 12, further comprising detector means for scanning saidsources and for actuating said changeover means in response to at leastsubstantial exhaustion of a source.
 14. Apparatus for subdividingelongated webs of wrapping material which are provided with bits ofinformation encoded therein into discrete blanks for transport to aconsuming machine, particularly to a machine for the processing oftobacco-containing products or the like, comprising a conveyOr arrangedto advance blanks to a consuming machine along an elongated path; aplurality of blank forming and feeding units adjacent to said path andeach including means for subdividing a web into a series of successiveblanks and transfer means operative to deliver blanks into the adjoiningportion of said path; adjustable advancing means for moving the webslengthwise toward the respective units; scanning means adjacent to thewebs and arranged to produce signals in response to detection of bits ofinformation therein; control means for adjusting said advancing means inresponse to said signals; and changeover means arranged to operate oneof said transfer means at a time so that the conveyor delivers to theconsuming machine a continuous stream of blanks in a predetermineddistribution.
 15. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said controlmeans comprise adjustable differential gearings for said adjustingmeans, servomotors for adjusting said gearings, said control circuitsarranged to operate said servomotors in response to signals from therespective scanning means.
 16. Apparatus as defined in claim 15, furthercomprising timer means operating in synchronism with the consumingmachine and arranged to transmit signals to said control circuits. 17.Apparatus for subdividing elongated webs of wrapping or other materialinto discrete blanks for transport to a consuming machine, particularlyto a machine for the processing of tobacco-containing products or thelike, comprising a suction conveyor arranged to advance blanks to aconsuming machine along an elongated path; a plurality of blank formingand feeding units adjacent to said path and each including means forsubdividing a web into a series of successive blanks and transfer meansoperative to deliver blanks into the adjoining portion of said path,said transfer means including suction wheels; and changeover meansarranged to operate one of said transfer means at a time so that theconveyor delivers to the consuming machine a continuous stream of blanksin a predetermined distribution, said changeover means including valvemeans for regulating the suction in said conveyor and said wheels. 18.Apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein said changeover means furthercomprises electromagnets energizable to change the positions of saidvalves and means for changing the condition of said electromagnets inresponse to at least substantial exhaustion of the webs.
 19. Apparatusas defined in claim 1, wherein said severing means comprises a severingdevice for each of said advancing means, and further comprises means forindependently operating each of said severing devices so that only thatsevering device which is associated with the activated advancing meansis operative at any time.